Multiple frame



NOV. 25, 1941. M ,JAQQBYV 263,629

` MULTIPLE FRAME Filled April 8, 14940 Patented Nov. 25, 1941 MULTI'PLE FRAME r Mex Jeceby, New Ybris Iii-1Y- A Applieatie Apii s, 194o',"seriai`N-. 328,418 v 1 claim. (01.4971552) This invention relates generally to picture or display frames, and has for its main object the provision of a multiple frame, that is, one that may be built up either longitudinally or vertically, or both, into any number of separate rectangular frames beginning with a single rectangular frame unit. To attain this object, a plurality of frame members or sides is provided; in the case of square frames, all the frame members are identical in all respects, but in the case of rectangular frames in which one side is longer than the other, two sets of frame members are provided, each set being identical with the other excepting in that thosev of one set are longer than those of the other.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such multiple frame members with card receiving slots forming an integral partthereof, and also with means for interlocking the ends of the members to form the corners of the frame units.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which like characters of reference refer to similarly numbered parts in the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof. It is to be noted that the drawing serves the purpose of illustration only, in order to set forth one manner of carying out the spirit of the invention.

Referring brieiiy to the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of the multiple frame.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a single frame unit with the four frame members detached from each other.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the reverse side of Figure 2 but showing the four frame members joined to form a single frame unit.

Figure 4 is a side View of any one of the four frame members shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 1, and Figure '7 is a similar View to Figure 5, showing the manner of alignment of the frame members.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I0 indicates the longitudinal frame members, all of which are identical, and the numeral II the transverse frame members, all of which are also identical to each other and, excepting for their length, are also identical with the members I0. The members I 0 and I I are preferably formed of a sheet of pliable metal which may be bent into the form described below, although they terial providedwith the `features and characteristics set forth belwfj Each member I0 and II is bent from a strip of material such as sheet metal, cardboard, or the like, to form a body portion I2 having a pair of mutually opposed V or U-shaped wings doubled back thereon by simple bending operations along longitudinal lines, to form upper and lower longitudinal slots I3 and I4, respectively. These wings, shown at I5, extend the full length of the body I2, and hence the slots I3 and I4 do likewise. The mutually opposed bases of the slots I3 and I4 are in linear contact with each other throughout their length, as shown at 2U.

Tabs I6 are provided on both ends of each member IIJ and Il, in alignment with the body I2 thereof. Since sheet metal, cardboard, or the like, is usually flexible to some extent, the tabs may be readily bent to one side or the other to a slight degree. Each tab I6 has an opening I'I passing therethrough.

In assembling a single frame unit, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the four members In and II are placed end to end to form a rectangle, and with the adjacent holes I6 of the members placed one over the other, screws I8 are passed through the joined ends and secured by nuts I9, to form the single unit frame shown in Figure 3. Obviously, any other suitable means may be used to releasably join the frame members at their ends, instead of screws and nuts.

When it is desired to add a second frame unit, the procedure is as follows. Assuming that the frame unit shown in Figure 3, indicated at 2|` is the original upon which it is desired to add additional units, this is done in an obvious manner, as will become apparent by referring to Figure 1, in which the upper left-hand frame unit is assumed to be the original unit 2| shown in Figure 3. The screws I8 are removed from the corner on which an additional frame member is to be added, and the tab or tabs IB of the additional frame member or members I or II are aligned with the holes I1 of that corner and the screw reinserted. Thus, the nal multiple frame may have any number of rectangular units in either a transverse or a longitudinal direction. Owing to the flexibility of the material forming the members Il) and Il, the slots I3 and I4 may be readily brought into a common plane by either slightly bending the tabs I6 or even by the relative rigidityof the picture card to be inserted into the frame. If the members I 0 and II are to be formed of a molded or relatively rigid mamight also be formed of any other suitable maferial, the tabs I6 may be bent or deformed as shown in Figure "i, with respect to the bodies l2 of the members I and H, so that when assembled the slots I3 and I4 of opposed members will always be in the same plane. However, with flexible or yieldable sheet metal or the like, such precision construction of the members is unnecessary, and consequently the latter form of manufacturing the members would be considerably less expensive.

In Figures 1 and 6 a picture card 22 is shown occupying one frame member. The device might be used to frame picture post cards as they are received, adding one or more frame units after receipt of each card. Or the multiple frame might be used for display or showcase purposes, wherein the number of cards or pictures displayed varies from time to time and the multiple frame may be expanded or reduced in accordance therewith.

Obviously, modiiications in form and struc# ture may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

A multiple frame comprising a plurality of' identical frame members, each of said members having an elongated body, said body having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots formed thereon, the length of said slots being substantially equal to the length of said body, said body having a tab extending from each end thereof, each of said tabs having an opening therethrough, said members being adapted to form a plurality of mutually attached frame units rectangular in outline by securing the tabs of some of said members to the tabs of others of said members, and means adapted to pass through said openings to .releasably interlock said tabs, the opposed said longitudinal slots in said members serving as grooves to receive the edges of a display card or the like therein.,

Y MAX JACOBY. 

